On December 2, Fallout 76 released its highly anticipated Burning Springs update for all supported platforms, bringing players to a post-apocalyptic version of southeastern Ohio. Along with a new map for Fallout 76 players to explore, the Burning Springs patch includes new activities like Bounty Hunting, a new Radhog pet for players to collect, and the start of Season 23, a Raider-themed season titled Blood X Rust.
The main focus of Fallout 76‘s latest update is the new Burning Springs map, located across the border between West Virginia and Ohio, in the southeastern corner of the Buckeye State. Although Fallout 76 maintains a focus on the post-apocalyptic wastes of Appalachia, Bethesda stated that it wanted to take Fallout fans to Ohio as that is a region that has not been explored before within the franchise, and that a sense of “Americana” motivated them to design a region based on Athens, Ohio. The Fallout games usually take place in the eastern or western US, with Fallout 3 and Fallout 4 set in the wastes of Washington, DC and the Boston area, respectively. Fallout 76‘s Burning Springs content update will allow players to comb through a setting that has remained unexplored until now.
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Bounty Hunting With The Ghoul
Players can enter Burning Springs by crossing the Point Pleasant bridge, and its main questline starts by tuning into the Ohio Distress Signal after reaching level 30. Along with the titular Burning Springs map, Fallout 76‘s new update has other pieces of content that players can enjoy at their leisure. Throughout Burning Springs, players can access various fishing holes and catch some new fish, including a Local Legend, for their collections. Two new Public Events, called Gearin’ Up and Sinkhole Solutions, will be available for players to participate in.
One of the biggest activities arriving with Fallout 76‘s new patch is Bounty Hunting, which is a new way to gain Legendary items for human and Ghoul players alike. This is done by accepting a Grunt Hunt in Highway Town, the main hub of Burning Springs. A mutation will be applied to the target that players must hunt down, and nearby monsters will also benefit from the mutation. Ergo, careful preparation is the key to a successful hunt. A Grunt Hunt target also has a chance to drop a Premium Bounty poster, which will start a Head Hunt public event across the entire server.
However, only one Head Hunt can be active at any given time, so players are encouraged to participate in any other Head Hunts that are up before starting another one. The main NPC for Fallout 76‘s Bounty Hunting system is Cooper Howard, better known simply as the Ghoul, from Amazon Prime’s Fallout TV series. Actor Walton Goggins reprises his role as the Ghoul in Fallout 76, and players will witness more of his backstory in the Burning Springs update.
Additionally, Fallout 76 has added a Radhog C.A.M.P. pet to the Atomic Shop, giving players a new way to spend their hard-earned Atoms. After obtaining it, players can then find the Radhog bed in the Dwellers section of the Workshop, and can craft a Nose Ring for it at the Armor Workbench. Additionally, more emotes can be added to the emote wheel, thanks to the new Social and Performance categories that players can utilize. The new patch also kicks off Fallout 76 Season 23, which is a raider-themed season called Blood X Rust.
Fallout 76 Has Plans for 2026
According to Bethesda, the story of Burning Springs will play out over multiple content patches, giving Fallout 76 players more to look forward to in 2026. With new content and systems in development, it remains to be seen how Fallout 76 will evolve in the year ahead.
Fallout 76 Version 1.7.22.12 Patch Notes (December 2, 2025)
Update Highlights
- Bounty Hunting – Grab your duster, cowboy hat, and your favorite weapon because it’s time for some Bounty Hunting!
- Explore Burning Springs – Cross Point Pleasant Bridge to enter a new land of rust and blood. Explore our largest map expansion yet!
- An Audience with the King – Prove yourself to The Rust King, the ruthless ruler of Burning Springs in the start of a whole new storyline for Fallout 76.
- New Public Events – Participate in two new Public Events, “Gearin’ Up” and “Sinkhole Solutions”.
- A Rad New Pet – Bring home a new friend from the Wasteland. A Radhog!
- Season 23: Blood X Rust – A Season for the Raiders.
Update Version 1.7.22.12 & Sizes
- PC (Steam): 28.8 GB
- PC (Microsoft Store): 39.3 GB
- Xbox: 41.9 GB
- PlayStation: 40.8 GB
A new region of the map is opening for those with enough grit to cross Point Pleasant bridge. It’s time for you to travel westward towards Burning Springs. Taking place in rural Ohio, this is our largest map expansion to Fallout 76 yet!
Become one of the meanest Bounty Hunters around, as the Burning Springs update introduces Bounty Hunting to your Fallout 76 experience. A major new piece of content here to give you the opportunity to find and eliminate some of the area’s largest threats.
We’re extremely excited to share that The Ghoul from the Fallout TV Show on Amazon Prime will be joining us in Burning Springs! Voiced by Walton Goggins himself, The Ghoul will be your guide in all things Bounty Hunting.
The main questline for Burning Springs is just the start of your story in this new region. Planned as the beginning chapter for a story that spans multiple updates, this quest works as an introduction to characters that you’ll end up spending more time with down the line.
With a new questline for you to complete, two new public events, the introduction of Bounty Hunting, plus a load of additional content (including new fish and a local legend to catch), Burning Springs is our largest update since Wastelanders back in 2020.
Welcome to Ohio
Burning Springs, a region of southeastern Ohio rocked not only by the nuclear destruction of the bombs dropping, but also the environmental poisoning from the local Abraxodyne Chemical plant. The area is now a desolate and barren wasteland with poisonous water, and a dust storm coating everything in a toxin known as Rust.
Who would ever want to call this land home? The Rust King is who would.
A Super Mutant with just as much brains as brawn, The Rust king is the unrelenting and unforgiving ruler of Burning Springs. He has twisted the land into his cruel kingdom, where the only rule is “might makes right.”
Players will cross paths with this monstrous monarch during the new questline. He will task the player with proving their worth and braving the wilds of his wasteland.
While barren, Burning Springs still holds pockets of life. Highway Town serves as a pit stop for the last of humanity. Built on a section of elevated highway, players will be able to rest and resupply here.
Highway Town serves as the region’s new social hub and a last resort for survivors– speaking of which, The Last Resort saloon at the end of town also serves up Bounty Hunt contracts.
Once you unlock the location, you’ll be able to fast travel directly to the saloon for maximum Bounty Hunt efficiency!
You can wander into Burning Springs by crossing the bridge in Point Pleasant. The questline can be started by tuning into the Ohio Distress Signal once they’ve reached level 30.
Bounty Hunting
Mosey down to the Last Resort saloon in Highway Town if you’re looking to put your gun to work. The Ghoul has set up shop there, providing piles of bounties to plunder.
To start a Grunt Hunt, just pick up one of the posters off the table. There’s plenty to go around, so you can repeat this activity to your heart’s content.
Each time you start a Grunt Hunt, a random location in Burning Springs will be chosen, and a mutation will be applied to your target. Watch out, though, because these mutations are contagious: enemies near your target will also benefit from the effects of the mutation!
Plan accordingly to take out your target without getting overwhelmed. Adjust your build to counteract their mutation or just go for the classic stealth approach.
If you’re lucky, a Grunt Hunt target might drop a premium Bounty Poster. These will allow you to start a Head Hunt– an extra challenging bounty hunt in the form of a public event! (Note: these are granted through the Quest Rewards and not found on the body itself.)
Just place your poster on the bounty board outside of the saloon to send the word wide. All players on the server will be alerted to show up to your aid when you do. Only one Head Hunt can be active at a time, though, so be sure to join in any actives ones before trying to start your own.
There’s dozens of unique Head Hunt targets across a handful of locations. Each has a unique loadout and posse protecting them– some with pretty wild and weird skills, too!
If you’ve got an itchy trigger finger, and caps to spare, The Ghoul would be more than happy to part with a premium poster… for the right price.
Players will be able to track which Head Hunts they’ve completed from their Challenges and earn a variety of unique rewards for doing so.
Speaking of loot, Bounty Hunting is primed to be the premiere path for Legendary Item hunters. Grunt Hunt targets will initially appear as 1-star Legendary enemies. As you complete more, they will eventually make their way toward 2 and 3-star!
